Sterilizing-case for pocket-thermometers.



PATBNTED FEB. 10, 1903.

0. H. ELBREGHT.

STERILIZING CASE FOR POCKET THERMOMETERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

THE N'onms PETERS 120.. n-yoromnou wasama'ron, n. c.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR H. ELBRECHT, OF ST; LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STERlLlZlNG-CASE FOR POCKET-THERMOMETERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 720,234, dated February 10, 1903. Application filed September 6, lOl. Serial No. 74,509. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR H. ELBRECHT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in sterilizing-Gases for Pocket-Thermometers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a sterilizing-case for the pocket-thermometers of physicians and which is adapted to maintain such instruments in a constant sterilized condition ready for use.

The present improvement has for its object to provide a simple, durable, and efficient arrangement of parts in which the thermometer is held within the case in a secure manner, its withdrawal rendered easy and convenient, and with which accidental leakage or spillage of the sterilizing fluid is prevent ed, all as will hereinafter more fully appear, and be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of the present invention, Figures 1 and 2 are central sectional elevations illustrating two different forms of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation illustrating the spring holding-prongs of the present construction.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the case or holder, preferably of an elongated cylindrical shape and formed of any usual and suitable material adapted to resist the action of the sterilizing fluid which it is intended to use. Such case or holder will have the usual closed bottom and open top for the insertion and removal of the thermometer.

2 is the thermometer, of the usualshape and which in the present invention is provided at its top with an engaging head 3, which may be integrally formed on the end of the thermometer or be in the form of a headed sleeve of hard rubber or other analogous material and permanently attached to the upper end of the thermometer, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

4; is a closure-head or stopper fitting the upper open end of the containing-case 1 in a liquid-tight manner and which is positively held in place by any usual and suitable provision.

In the form of stopper illustrated in Fig. 1

illustrated in Fig. 2 the stopper will have a reduced portion 6, provided with external screw-threads and adapted to screw into the screw-threaded bore of the annular internal flange or neck 7 of the main casing 1 and which flange is located at a point adjacent to the open end of such main casing. As so constructed a very effective closure or sealing means against leakage is aiforded by the contact of the top surface of said flange with the annular shoulder or surface 8 on the stopper adjacent to the reduced portion 6.

9' represents a series of annularly-arranged spring fingers or prongs depending from the lower end of the closure-head or stopper 4 and adapted to receive and hold the engaging head 3 of the thermometer in a manner to prevent any but a forcible disengagement of the same by the hands of the user or other like forcible means. 7

In use the main casing or housing 1 of the sterilizer will contain a quantity of any desired sterilizing fluid, and when so desired the interior of such casing may be provided with an interior absorbent lining of spun glass or other like cellular material to hold the sterilizing fluid against spillage, as well as to 'act as a cushion for the sides of the thermometer. v

10 is an attaching-chain for a safety connection of the holder to the clothing of the physician, &c., by means of a hitch or other pin 11, the other end of such chain being connected to the screw-cap 5 or other suitable portion of the casing 1. 7

.Any usual and suitable material may be employed in the construction of the present invention, the only absolute requirement being that the material used will resist chemical action on the part of the particular sterilizing fluid it is intended to use.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sterilizing-case for pocket-thermometers comprising in combination, a case or holder, a closure-head or stopper therefor, an annular series of spring-prongs attached to the inner end of said closure-head, and a headed sleeve adapted for permanent attachment to the end of the thermometer and for detachable engagement with said prongs, substantially as set forth.

2. A sterilizing-case for pocket-thermometers comprising in combination, a case or holder, a closure-head or stopper therefor having a tapering form, a screw-cap engaging the case or holder to maintain the stopper-in place, and an annular series of spring-prongs attached. to the inner end of said closurehead and adapted to engage and hold a thermometer by its end in a readily-detachable manner, substantially as set forth.

3. A sterilizing-case for pocket-thermometers comprising in combination, a case or holder, a closure-head or stopper therefor having a tapering form, a screw-cap engaging the case or holder to maintain the stopper in place, and an annular series of spring-prongs attached to the inner end of said closurehead, and a headed sleeve adapted for permanent attachment to the end of the thermometer and for detachable engagement with said prongs, substantially as set forth.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 28th day of August, 1901.

OSCAR H. ELBRECI-IT.

Witnesses:

JULIUS T. MUENCH, J 0s. MORRISON. 

